Are breastfed children smarter? Three Scottish scientists say the evidence points in both directions, making a definitive conclusion impossible. They found that breastfed children scored higher on measures of cognitive functioning than other kids. The key question is what accounts for the higher score?Is it something intrinsic in mother's milk or in the profoundly physical and emotional act of breastfeeding itself? Are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in mother's milk important for the development of the central nervous system and intelligence or is it the intimate contact between a mother and her baby while breastfeeding that might affect the brain's development in ways still not understood?
Previous research has indicated that premature infants realise larger gains in mental functioning after being breastfed than full-term babies, suggesting that this form of nutrition might be particularly important for neurological development. Against that, "Children who were breastfed had mothers with higher IQ and with more education and who were older, less likely to be in poverty or to smoke and more likely to provide a more stimulating and supportive home environment," the reserchers wrote.
And for all mums, including those fighting for the right to breastfeed in public without being hassled, the truth remains: "It's almost always better to breastfeed, without exception, even though we don't know all the answers to all the questions we have about its impact," said Brenda Snyder, breastfeeding coordinator for the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Maybe we should just think about it one moment. Which would you rather feed on – a piece of rubber or something more natural and which would leave you feeling warmer and happier afterwards?
Oooh James you have hit on one of my least favourite buttons, and used a sledgehammer besides. To a very long and boring story short - when I was enciente I was in the hospital for 6 months. The Cherub (as he is called in these parts) was born premature. I suffered severe post-natal depression for the first month and wouldn't touch him, never mind breastfeed. Luckily the switch flipped but I had missed the breastfeeding window. I did some research and found that there were things you could do to compensate for the bonding issues the main one being take a warm bath every day with the baby on your chest. My son and I bathed together everyday until he was 3. He just finished his first term at secondary shool and was called in on Friday to be awarded a Certificate of Excellence (and his school is one of the most difficult in the country). The Breast is Best campaign originated because low-income mothers were not mixing the formula to strength in order to save to money so it was decided that they needed to be encouraged to feed their children something they couldn't mess with. Breast is good - but I think that anything that makes those of us who can't or don't do feel that we are shortchanging our children - cannot possibly be best. Also note to all these breastfeeding mothers in the Starbucks drinking their 4 shot lattes, or the ladies at home with the bottle of merlot - "what goes in your mouth comes out your teat". Breast may be best (to some) but not Breast and caffeine or Breast and alcohol. P.S. My undernourished son is 5'9" and never ill. :) It's love and attention the need (and less fish fingers and chips) :)
ReplyDeleteNow as an Aquarian man, you might imagine how interesting this is to me. Most of the readers here are male [natch] and it could well do us all good to get a further understanding. Even with all the health care etc., there's still always the issue of complications - it's amazing the whole process which I've twice seen at close quarters now. Thanks for your comment.
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